john mclaughlin improvisation scale lesson – modern music theory and application

John Mclaughlin Chromatic Guitar alternate picking Jazz Fusion Licks Lesson

This blog takes a brief look at John Mclaughlin’s use of Chromaticism in regards to Jazz Fusion Guitar lines. The 2 licks are also from a video I did on Dave Liebman’s Chromatic approach to jazz. They both share the same concepts. The licks are riffs doubled up with piano.

John Mclaughlin Chromatic Jazz Fusion Licks John Mclaughlin guitar pdf Download

John Mclaughlin Guitar Lick 1 -Employ strict alternate picking starting on a “Downstroke”

Chromatic, John, Mclaughlin, Lick, Alternate Picking, guitar, technique, lesson, example — John Mclaughlin Chromatic Guitar Licks Lesson

John Mclaughlin Guitar Lick 2 -Again, employ strict alternate picking starting on a “Downstroke”

The key is to pick each 4 note grouping [Tetrachord] in time with your foot tapping the 1/4 note.

So you have:

“1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a”

This will give you a smooth alternate picking sound and hold time with the piano [or doubling instrument].

IF THIS LESSON WAS OF USE TO YOU THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO US BELOW ON YOUTUBE, THANKS!

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Today we will look at a John Mclaughlin alternate picking Jazz/Fusion improvisation cadence employing the altered dominant chord! Please watch the video below and then try it out yourself.

As you will see this cadence employs the Altered scale. It is a 2 [minor 7 flat 5] going to 5 [ “Altered Dominant”] 1 [major 7th]. This being Dm7 flat 5 G7 altered resolving to C major7.

I also employ a flat 5 substitution on the Dm7 flat 5. All of this resolves though and slips nicely into the altered dominant 5 chord. I also use pentatonics within the altered scale for rhythmic flow. Please look at the TAB/MUSIC below and play through it yourself to see and feel how it all “Naturally” unfolds. I employ alternate picking the same as John Mclaughlin.

John Mclaughlin alternate picking altered scale line Music/Tab

John Mclaughlin Alternate picking Altered scale jazz improviser line

VARIATION With an A flat Pentatonic shape replacing A flat minor/Major Arpeggio for the flat 5 substitution.

Altered scale jazz improvisation, jazz improviser lesson

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Author: Clifford Martin Musical Artist: Guitar Gti

Modern Music Theory

Clifford Martin is a trained classical musician and composer. His 1st study being piano and composition and a deep study into the meticulous world of modern music theory. He also studied jazz piano and jazz drums privately. Clifford later came back to the guitar and studied in the jazz fusion style of John McLaughlin and Al di Meola. It was at this point that he put all of his years of learning together into one musical form This website is a sort of cataloging of ideas and musical concepts for exploitation and development in the arts of musical composition and improvisation. What started out as a jazz improvisation site has grown into a full blown, harmony, timbre, pitch and rhythm library. Peace, Enjoy!